Argentine Republic, República Argentina. 34,264,000 (1995). Literacy rate 92% to 95%. Information mainly from Tovar 1966, Acebes 1966, J. Suárez 1969, ANG 1982, A. Buckwalter MEN 1981, SIL 1996. Christian, Jewish, secular. Blind population 14,300 (1982 WCE) or 30,000 (1979 estimate). Deaf institutions: 17. Data accuracy estimate: B. The number of languages listed for Argentina is 26. Of those, 25 are living languages and 1 is extinct.
ARGENTINE SIGN LANGUAGE [AED] Deaf sign language. Deaf people go to different schools, each using a different sign language outside class. Sign language is not allowed in the classroom. Deaf schools were begun in 1885. Volunteer sign language interpreters are used at some important public events. Not used on TV. There are sign language stories and drama on film or video. There is a committee for a national sign language, and organizations for sign language teachers and interpreters. Some research on the language. There is a manual alphabet for Spanish spelling. Survey needed.
AYMARA, CENTRAL [AYM] 2,200,000 in all countries. Also in Bolivia (primarily), Peru, Chile. Aymaran. Quite a few have come from Bolivia looking for work. Sugar mill workers. Bible 1987-1993. NT 1954-1977. Bible portions 1829-1966.
CHANÉ [CAJ] Salta. Arawakan, Unclassified. Language has not been spoken for 300 years. Descendents are called 'Izoceño' and now speak a variety of Chiriguano (Eastern Bolivian Guaraní). Some have equated this name with 'Guana' (Kaskiha) of Paraguay of Mascoian affiliation, or Terena of Brazil of Arawakan affiliation, but they are distinct. Extinct.
CHIRIGUANO (WESTERN ARGENTINE GUARANÍ, EASTERN BOLIVIAN GUARANÍ, "CHAWUNCU") [GUI] 15,000 in Argentina; 15,000 in Bolivia; 2,000 in Paraguay (1991); 32,000 in all countries. Jujuy, Salta. Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Guarani (I). Dialects: CHANÉ, IZOCEÑO (IZOCENYO, ISOCENIO). 'Chiriguano' is a name used in Argentina. 'Guarayo' is used in Argentina as a collective name; distinct from Guarayo of Bolivia. "Chawuncu", "Chabanco", "Chaguanco" are derogatory. Izoceño is a group that speaks a variety of this language. Chané is a group that formerly spoke an Arawakan language, but now speak a variety of Chiriguano. Traditional religion. NT 1974. Bible portions 1931-1964.
CHIRIPÁ (TSIRIPÁ, TXIRIPÁ, NHANDEVA, ÑANDEVA, APYTARE) [NHD] 11,900 or more in all countries; 7,000 in Paraguay (1991); 4,900 in Brazil (1995 AMTB). Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Guarani (I). Dialect: APAPOCUVA. Called 'Chiripá' in Paraguay, 'Nhandeva' in Brazil. 'Ñandeva' is used in the Paraguayan Chaco for the Tapiete. Bible portions 1991. Work in progress.
CHOROTE, IYOJWA'JA (CHOROTI, YOFUAHA, EKLENJUY) [CRT] 800, all in Argentina (1982 Drayson ANG). Northeast Salta Province. Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco. Called 'Chorote' in Argentina, 'Choroti' in Paraguay, 'Eklenjuy' by the Chulupi. A distinct language from Iyo'wujwa Chorote (Drayson). River dwellers. Traditional religion. Bible portions 1961-1993. Work in progress.
CHOROTE, IYO'WUJWA (CHOROTI, MANJUY, MANJUI) [CRQ] 1,500 in Argentina; 500 in Paraguay (1991 SIL); 2,000 in all countries. In Argentina they are mixed with the Iyojwa'ja Chorote. No more than a couple of families in Bolivia. Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco. Monolingualism is more prevalent in Paraguay (almost 100%); perhaps 50% in Argentina. In Argentina all children have primary education in Spanish. Traditional religion. Bible portions 1992. Work in progress.
CHULUPI (CHURUPI, CHUNUPI, ASHLUSHLAY, CHULUPIE, CHULUPE, NIVAKLÉ) [CAG] 200 in Argentina, 18,000 in Paraguay; 18,200 in both countries. Salta, northeast. Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco. Dialects: FOREST CHULUPI, RIVER CHULUPI. Dialects are inherently intelligible. Traditional religion. Bible 1995. NT 1973. Bible portions 1969.
GUARANÍ, MBYÁ (MBYÁ, MBUA, EASTERN ARGENTINA GUARANI) [GUN] 12,000 or more in all countries; 5,000 in Brazil (1995 SIL); 7,000 in Paraguay (1995 SIL). Northeast. Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Guarani (I). Traditional religion. NT 1987. Bible portions 1971-1976.
KAIWÁ (CAINGUA, CAIWÁ, KAYOVA) [KGK] 512 in Argentina; 15,000 in Brazil (1995 SIL); 15,500 in both countries, or more. Northeast. Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Guarani (I). 70% lexical similarity with Pai Tavytera of Paraguay. NT 1986. Bible portions 1966-1972.
MAPUDUNGUN (ARAUCANO, MAPUTONGO, MAPUCHE, MAPUDUNGU) [ARU] 40,000 or more in Argentina (1975 Golbert); 400,000 in Chile; 440,000 in both countries. Provinces of Neuquen, Rio Negro, Chubut, Buenos Aires, La Pampa. Araucanian. Dialect: PEHUENCHE. Recent migration from Chile. One or more dialects. Bible portions 1901-1930. Work in progress.
MOCOVÍ (MOCOBÍ, MBOCOBÍ) [MOC] 3,000 to 4,000 (1981 Buckwalter). South Chaco, northeast Santa Fe. Mataco-Guaicuru, Guaicuruan. Traditional religion. NT 1988. Bible portions 1976.
ONA (AONA, SELKNAM) [ONA] 1 to 3 speakers in Tierra del Fuego (1991 Adelaar). Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego. Also formerly in Chile. Chon. Nearly extinct.
PILAGÁ (PILACA) [PLG] 2,000 (1991 UBS). Along the valleys of the Bermejo and Pilcomayo rivers in central and western Formosa Province, Chaco and Salta Province. Mataco-Guaicuru, Guaicuruan. Dialects: TOBA-PILAGÁ (SOMBRERO NEGRO), CHACO PILAGÁ. Intelligibility between the dialects needs investigation. Traditional religion. NT 1993. Bible portions 1938-1978.
PUELCHE (GENNAKEN, PAMPA, NORTHERN TEHUELCHE) [PUE] 5 or 6 speakers. Extinct in Chile. Pampas. Language Isolate. Distinct from Pehuenche dialect of Mapudungun. Nearly extinct.
QUECHUA, NORTHWEST JUJUY (COLLA) [QUO] 5,000 possibly (1990 SIL). Northwest Jujuy Province, near the Bolivian border. Quechuan, Quechua II, C. Different from Santiago del Estero (R. Nardi). Probably intelligible with South Bolivian Quechua. Apparent high bilingualism in Spanish. Migratory. Typology: SOV. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
QUECHUA, SOUTH BOLIVIAN (CENTRAL BOLIVIAN QUECHUA) [QUH] 850,000 in Argentina, including about 200,000 temporary laborers, about 100,000 looking for work, 500,000 living in Buenos Aires (1971 F. Hicks). Also possibly 70,000 in Salta Province. 2,782,500 in Bolivia (1987); 3,632,500 in both countries. Buenos Aires, some working on docks. Some also in Salta Province. Quechuan, Quechua II, C. Bible 1986-1993. NT 1922-1977. Bible portions 1907-1949.
QUICHUA, SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO (SANTIAGUEÑO QUICHUA) [QUS] 75,000 (1985 SIL). Santiago del Estero Province, north central Argentina, Departments of Figueroa, Moreno, Robles, Sarmiento, Brigadier J.F. Ibarra, San Martín, Silipica, Loreto, Atamisqui, Avellaneda, Salavina, Quebrachos, Mitre, Aguirre. Some also in southeast Salta Province. Quechuan, Quechua II, C. Different from Bolivian (81% lexical similarity) or other Quechua (P. Landerman SIL 1968). Young men are becoming somewhat bilingual in Spanish because of serving in the armed forces; rural men are bilingual in Spanish; children are in Spanish language schools. Increased use by media, radio broadcasts, musical groups. There is a Chair of Quichua in the National University, and a decree authorizing promotion and teaching in schools. Agriculturalists, migrations to sugar cane harvest, cotton harvesters, carbon making industry. Selections 1978. Survey needed.
SPANISH [SPN] 33,000,000 in Argentina (1995 estimate); 266,000,000 in all countries (1987 Time). Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Ibero-Romance, North, Central. National language. Bible 1553-1979. NT 1543-1986. Bible portions 1514-1985.
TAPIETÉ (GUARAYO, GUASURANGUE, TIRUMBAE, YANAIGUA, ÑANAGUA) [TAI] 100 in Argentina; 40 in Bolivia; 1,800 in Paraguay (1991 SIL); 2,000 in all countries; (64 adults in Argentina; 1984 SIL). Northeast, Tartagal, 1 village. Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Guarani (I). Survey needed.
TEHUELCHE (AONIKEN, GUNUA-KENA, GUNUNA-KENA, INAQUEN) [TEH] 30 (1983 Casamiquela, in Clairis). Patagonia. Chon. The people have come from Chile. Nearly extinct.
TOBA (CHACO SUR, QOM, TOBA QOM) [TOB] 15,000 to 20,000 in Argentina; 700 in Paraguay (1991 SIL); 100 possibly in Bolivia; 15,800 to 20,800 in all countries. Eastern Formosa Province and Chaco Province. Mataco-Guaicuru, Guaicuruan. Dialects: SOUTHEAST TOBA, NORTHERN TOBA. Different from Toba of Paraguay (Toba-Maskoy) or Toba-Pilagá of Argentina. Traditional religion, Christian. NT 1980. Bible portions 1964-1994.
VILELA [VIL] Five families. Resistencia, east central Chaco province near Paraguay border. Lule-Vilela. Any remaining Vilela are apparently being absorbed by the Toba or losing their Indian identity in the barrios of towns and cities (1981 Buckwalter). Nearly extinct.
WICHÍ LHAMTÉS GÜISNAY ("MATACO" GÜISNAY, GÜISNAY, "MATACO" PILCOMAYO, "MATACO") [MZH] Northern, Pilcomayo River area. Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco. "Mataco" is derogatory. The self name of the people is 'Wichí'; the language 'Wichí Lhamtés'. Traditional religion. Work in progress.
WICHÍ LHAMTÉS NOCTEN ("MATACO" NOCTEN, NOCTEN, NOCTENES, OKTENAI) [MTP] 100 in Argentina; 1,427 in Bolivia (1981 SFM); 1,530 in both countries. Northern border down to Tartagal. Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco. Traditional religion. Work in progress.
WICHÍ LHAMTÉS VEJOZ ("MATACO" VEJOZ, VEJOS) [MAD] 25,000 in both countries (1991 UBS). Northern area: Chaco, Formosa, Salta, Jujuy. Generally west of Toba, along upper Bermejo River Valley, and Pilcomayo River. Some in Bolivia. Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco. Dialect: BERMEJO VEJOZ. Not intelligible with other Chaco languages. Language family also called 'Mataco-Mataguayo'. Nocten and Güisnay are separate. Levels of bilingualism in Spanish are 0:0%, 1:80%, 2-3:19%, 4-5:1%. Traditional religion. NT 1962-1993. Bible portions 1919-1989.
Part of the Ethnologue, 13th Edition, Barbara F. Grimes, Editor.
Copyright © 1996, Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc. All rights reserved.
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